peachy

Whatever 3NT is, it needs to be very specific and narrow range hand because it takes up so much room. Some play that it shows solid six-card diamonds but not extras otherwise. Some play it shows NT hands, ranges compatible with the rest of the system.

GIB seems to systematically play King from dummy from KJx or KJxx on opening lead in that suit. Why is GIB assuming that opening lead is from under the Ace? I have seen this at least ten times. here is a typical example: Board 17 in Robot Race #3389.

Whether you play 2/1 or not, has nothing to do with how you handle reverse auction sequences or what agreement you make about auctions where opener has reversed. This is your first error. Secondly, you seem to be confused what a reverse is. Opener's jumpshift is not the same as reverse. They are handled differently and they promise different things. Again, does not matter at all whether your system is 2/1 or not. 1H-1S-3D = GF jumpshift, not a reverse 1C-1H-1S = not a reverse because opener's second bid was still on the one-level. opener needs no extra strength. 1D-1S-2C = Not a reverse because opener's second suit is lower-ranking so that if responder wants to give preference to opener's first suit, he can do so on the 2-level. Opener needs no extra strength. 1C-1S-2D, 1D-1S-2H = Reverses, because opener's second suit was bid on the two level and the second suit is higher ranking than the first suit. Opener must have significant extra strength and at least 5-4 in the two suits.

The J2NT method says that opener shows a singleton on the 3-level if he has one. So yes, it is better to cooperate unless you have agreed to change the method so that opener can deny a singleton even when he has one.

Peachy/lg62 would like to bid the hands Tuesday, afternoon (Pacific Time). We will look around for a host, but if someone can commit with a time, we'd like that. Anytime between 12 noon and 5PM Pacific Time.

I play Systems On, including Lebensohl. Dbl of 2C is Stayman. Dbl of RHO's other 2-level bis is whatever you have agreed Dbl to mean in your methods (penalty for many). For Lebensohl, any stopper promise/deny applies only to RHO's suit since 1NT overcall already promised the stopper in their opening suit (LHO's suit).

I see completely unnecessary LONG pauses very often when I am dummy. I use the old version and have excellent connection.

I think it means the same as Repeat-Stayman, that I have heard before in connection with 2C being Puppet over 1NT; asking which major is 3-cards. However, I would need to know the rest of the system over 1NT to judge its merits. If it means we can't introduce clubs or minors naturally, then I would not play it. Mohitz showed a system but the trouble is that with "ordinary strength" responder, opponents will be given a roadmap both as to exact shape. Defenders have an easy time defending.

Negative Dbl over 3S begins to morph into "values" Dbl. It is still negative but the shape requirements are completely different and more relaxed than after 1D(1S)X, and it is left in more often. If not, our side is like a baby in the wilderness with no resources. 4NT as RKC for hearts makes no sense. But this is one of the situations where partnership agreement is necessary, both as to the parameters of the negative Dbl and as to opener's followups.

Bid 2H. Neither 1S nor 1NT give partner the news he needs. I see no need to complicate the auction.

I agree with others it was the wrong time to ask because he was passing anyway. Sometimes I have trouble with the English language, so you were not far off in suspecting that :)

3S clear. Admittedly there can be a slight difference of "good hand" vs "bad hand" for opener, but the range is only 2HCP. So if there is a difference and it is agreed 3S is not the obvious automatic bid, then 3S is stronger to leave room for investigation. Any time opener does not have 4-card spade suit, he must bid 3NT.

I sometimes try not to do it because it's a bit hard on teammates, who generally don't like it if you know the result and they don't - but it's very hard to resist, so I usually peek if I know the other table is still in play and otherwise I'll have to wait. It's odd that it's specifically prohibited: why? I would imagine it is sometimes hard to control body language when looking at the results on screen and if it is within sight from the table still in play, it could provide UI one way or another. As said, I am guessing. But even without this guess, I favor it being prohibited.

Interesting! What is K&R? A hand evaluator that to my knowledge is a well-respected and trusted tool, although "common sense" works almost as well. http://www.jeff-goldsmith.org/cgi-bin/knr.cgi

1NT. This is not even a good 17HCP. K&R evaluates it as 16.80. More common evaluation methods say: worst shape and only 5 controls. So it is an average plus hand in 15-17 NT overcall range and an average minus in 16-18 NT overcall range. Un upgradeable hand would have a suit to run and six+ controls. Or at least a great 17.

I admit that it is rare for me to understand a Cloacal post, but this one is in a class of its own! Heh, not to mention he thinks Bermuda Bowl and Venice Cup which are World Championships, would have intermediates playing...

Natural. I understand 1NT rebid as "oversize 1NT" 18-19 balanced. Opener could have bid a major or redoubled with other types of hands.

West had every reason to ask about their minor suit opening style before balancing in with a 2D call. Secondly, I don't know who would ever lead a spade from 10xxxx in this auction. Even if the TD and/or the AC decided that West's question pointed to a club lead (I do not see how that finding is possible!), the spade lead is definitely NOT a second choice, at least not for me. I'd rather try to get a diamond ruff by leading the ace and seeing what partner plays on it, and then club switch becomes obvious when I see the dummy. I would rule table result stands and advise NS to be more forthcoming with their answers so West does not have to ask multiple questions. On the second hand, 2NT "is a relay" is inadequate as an explanation. What is it a relay to? Then, after 3D: What does 3D mean? Is it a forced response or are there other responses in the system? What other responses - if any - where available? Is GF on? Should it have been alerted? What does 3NT mean? Did he have other responses than 3NT available? and so on. However, West was passing so in this hand he should have waited after partner leads, to ask questions these questions. All in all, Case 1: Result stands. Case 2: If there had been alleged damage from a diamond lead, I would adjust, because West had no reason to ask at the time he asked unless he was interested in a certain lead ***. For me, a diamond lead offers the best chance for setting if partner has five of them and he also must have an entry or else they might have missed a slam. Further, underleading an ace or a jack is seldom right, but after West's questions, I feel I cannot lead a diamond. Edit: *** or he was asking for partner's benefit.

I don't see any problem with that 1NT opening. However, if it is a habit and there are frequent 13HCP 1NT's in this partnership, it becomes a disclosure problem (MI) when their agreement has slid into a different range, perhaps with accompanying upgrades of 17HCP hands into the 18-19NT HCP range. This is just speculation, so a single incident is fine while frequent ones IMO are not ok if the announcement is kept at 15-17. As to your question of "official status", I don't know what - if any - there is.

I would Dbl with this. Pretty sure most would.

It is not really a "modern" way, been around for decades and not far removed from the "beginner rules" of takeout double: The opponent's suit is the shortest, three or more cards in all unbid suits, 12+ HCP, and if really short in their suit then 10+ is enough, and if both unbid majors then don't worry too much about the minor suit shapes.

This is not the stupidest but a true story nevertheless, though I was not any of the parties in this hand. Partner opens 1NT (16-18 was the norm in that decade), you hold 24 HCP and Pass. TD is called for responder fielding a psych or some such reason. Responder says "I have played bridge for 35 years and never saw all 40 HCP on one side. And I still haven't seen it!" 1NT made while the rest of the room where in 2NT-1 after a normal 2C-2D-2NT-P.

In ACBL, you should rely on ACBL regulations and the laws. The Tech Files are not part of the regulations. Until we get updated criteria for 2C opening in ACBL regulations, anything goes. It has been so ruled consistently and it is very unfortunate. I believe the low HCP variants should be described honestly on the system card, not just "9+ tricks". KQ109xxxxxx-x-xx-void also has "reasonable chance for game with a little help from partner".

If your partner agrees it is a 2C opener, then it is fine and allowed. The problem comes when none of the opponents expect this hand and there is no disclosure of your 2C opening style. Good players will not open this 2C and I really think ACBL should set some parameters what hands qualify. Until they do, hrothgar and blackshoe said it.

North never asked. So if 2C had become the final contract, do you think either the opener or the responder should volunteer information about the mishap? They had no agreement whether Inverted was on or off in competition.